Akpagu at the wheel : Celebrating Unical's phenomenal rise in the last four years

The award winning Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpagu was four years into his five years tenure on the 30th of November 2019. He assumed office formally as the 10th and first Alumnus Vice Chancellor of the University on the 30th November 2015.

Unarguably, Unical, a 2nd generation University has had its best days since establishment in the last four years of Prof. Akpagu's administration. It's almost or impossible to think of any aspect of the University that has not developed rapidly since he came on board.

Renowned for his charismatic leadership style which involves blowing hot and cold depending on which strategy best suits what he intends to achieve, Akpagu has successfully taken Univcak from a stagnant 2nd generation University to a fast rising 21st century institution.

Akpagu, despite assuming office at a time the nation was going through one of her worst recessions of all times, he has been phenomenal. He is leaving indelible marks in the areas of infrastructure and development, programmes expansion, security, among others. Gradually, the University is becoming a huge construction sites.

It's on record that no Vice Chancellor in the over 40 years lifespan of the institution has completed or come close to completing more capital projects than Prof. Akpagu. In terms of curriculum offerings, it's also the same, he holds the record as the VC who has established more programmes to meet the contemporary labour demands than any other in the history of the University.

Besides, the profile of the University, nationally and internationally is rising radically. Unical, like the United States of America extolled sometime this year has become not just a national pride but a global brand.

Days were Unical was dismissed with a wave of hand are over as Students and products of the University have taken the international community by storm. It wasn't long ago that Students from the University won the World Best Oralist Competition held at the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) headquarters, Washington DC, United States of America.

The University which fielded Students that represented the entire Africa continent at the International Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition also emerged runners up in the competition.

Also, within the same period, Unical football team took the country by storm when nobody gave the University a chance by becoming the winner of the 2019 Nigeria Higher Institution Football League tournament. This was of course the first of it kind.

As if that wasn't enough, in the area of theatre and stage performance, the University is also Nigeria's champion. In the recently held Nigerian Universities Theatre Festival, Unical emerged the overrall best by sweeping most of the awards. The event which had 16 Universities participating saw Unical coming first in Short Film, Spoken Word and Stand-up Comedy competitions. The University also won the best overall Female Actor in the event.

In other categories, Unical came third in Drama, Contemporary Dance as well as first, second and third in "on the spot" Solo Performance Workshop Competition. In the event's Carnival competition, Unical band was adjudged the most colourful and best interpreted.

In the past four years, Akpagu has been magical as he has been phenomenal. He has touched virtually every area in the University - ranging from Sports, Security, Alumni relations, Campus aesthetics, Expansion of curriculum offerings, Staff and Students welfare, infrastructure etc.

Also recall that, Unical got her first ever elevator after over 40 years under the Akpagu's administration. Many former VCs tried and got frustrated at some point in trying to install an elevator in the University Library but Akpagu who sees impossibility as illusion took up the challenge and today, Students and staff who were finding it difficult to access the top floors of the building are now doing so almost effortlessly.

Below is an attempt to highlight some of his achievements under different units of the University represented in themes. This is not comprehensive because it's too difficult to try to remember all the numerous things he has done in such a short period.

Expansion of Infrastructural Development : Construction, Supplies and Rehabilitation

• Construction of 500-seater pavilion for faculty of Engineering

• Construction of Laboratory, Resource room and Library for faculty of Dentistry

• Construction of Department of Physics Workshop

• Construction of Dance Studio for Department of Theatre, Film and Carnival Studies

• Construction of packaged water treatment plant and connection to the central water supply system

• Construction of ultramodern parking lot

• Construction and furnishing of 1-storey capacity Chemistry Laboratory and classroom building

• Construction and furnishing of 1-storey capacity Physics Laboratory and classroom building

• Re-enforcement of internal security with about 30 armed Policemen patrolling the Staff quarters on 24 hours basis and other vulnerable points on campus

• 90 % completion of a Police station building at the staff quarters to checkmate violent crimes like Kidnapping and armed robbery

• Securing approval from the Chief of Naval Staff for the establishment of a naval security post and Jetty at the Qua River axis of UNICAL to checkmate violent crimes on the waterways.

• Unprecedented promotion of security staff.

• Special promotion of security staff who exhibited extra-ordinary

gallantry in the execution of their duty

• Erection of new security posts at new faculties and departments

IMPROVEMENT IN ALUMNI RELATIONS

• Unification of the entire alumni body

• Elevation of UNICAL alumni to a Directorate

• Identification with the various UNICAL alumni branches across the federation

• Renewed interest in alumni activities manifested in springing up of several branches

• A period marked by the recognition an elevation of many alumni in various fields of human endeavor

• Alumni enrichment of Departments by visiting alumnus

CAMPUS AESTHETICS/ REBRANDING

• Shuttle Park

• Hogan Bassey parking lot

• Landscaping and planting of ornamental plants

• Uniform color of the University structures

• Upgrading of UNICAL main gate

• Upgrading facilities in the Senior Staff Club

IMPROVEMENT IN CAMPUS MUNICIPAL SERVICES

• Campus Shuttle service

• Improved Water Supply

• Move to up constant power supply

• Recreational facilities

• Improved Campus traffic

EXPANSION OF CURRICULUM OFFERINGS/ ACADEMIC VISIBILITY

• Expansion of the academic curricula by the introduction of new and marketable programmes like Music, Fine and Applied Arts, Tourism and Hospitality, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Engineering, Mass Communication and

• Southern Universities USA and ICT University foundation, USA- for establishment of e-learning center and exchange program

• Montclair State University, character Scotland and Dreams learning Solutions-for establishment of Resource and implementation character Education and Evaluation Center.

• Delta State University, Abraka- for staff/ students exchange program

• Cross River College of Education, Akamkpa- Affiliation for award of degrees in Education

ONGOING PROJECTS

• Construction of proposed 500-seat lecture pavilion

• Construction of Academic building incorporating Science Laboratory for the faculty of Education

• Construction of offices and classrooms for the faculty of Science

• Construction of faculty of Engineering complex

As stated earlier, this list is not absolutely comprehensive as it's herculean task to try to capture. Many projects may have missed out in this but howbeit, Unical has risen in the last four years more than any other Nigerian University and this is enough to celebrate.

As he enters his last year in office, there's no doubt that he will do because his passion to turn things around in the University is as strong as the first step he assumed office.